2018 was a quiet year for Olympus, but we're expecting to see a bit more activity from company in 2019.

There are already rumors (and numerous leaks) that suggest we could see a new flagship OM-D E-M1X this year, and now it seems we could also see a replacement for ageing PEN-F. PhotoRumors.com is reporting that Olympus registered a new PEN-F camera with an overseas government regulator – a key indicator that a new camera is waiting in wings – but no other information is currently available.A new PEN-F makes sense though – current PEN-F was launched back in January 2016 and is now three years old, and ripe for an update. The PEN-F is a well-featured camera, with a 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder, 1.04 million dot 3.0-inch tilt-angle touchscreen and 5-axis image stabilization system.

An uprated Micro Four Thirds sensor would be welcome though, and while we wouldn't expect a jump from 20MP resolution, improved high-ISO performance would be nice to see, along with 4K video capture – current PEN-F can only shoot at 1080p. An overhauled focusing system would also be welcome – contrast-detect AF system in current PEN-F is solid but not remarkable, and a new hybrid system with on-sensor phase-detect AF would certainly appeal. We'll keep you posted on any further developments.